a Risky Action

"You said it was vitally important... and I assume it has something to do with the kids...?"

Mr Akashi smiled and casually gave the younger guests a small wave, though none returned the friendly gesture.

"No this is far more important than these children."

Mr Tetsuko said, which brought several surprised glances his way, since the teens had assumed it was about Kei's relationship status, or whatever Minami had hoped to bare to get her way again.

"In fact dear friend... You needed to choose your men more carefully."

With a quick look about the room, he brought his hand up and snapped his fingers together.

"Wha...?"

Three of the four suited 'henchmen' in the room suddenly sprung into action, while the nearest one put his big hands around Kei's upper arms, and held her firmly where she stood. The other two moved toward Mr Akashi in a rush, with one revealing a metal baton, that in a very short scuffle to hold onto the 'bosses' arms, it was dislodged, however each successfully held onto his elbows and wrists, keeping the Akashi members in place without too much fuss.

The short metal pole rolled past the still smiling Mr Tetsuko, coming to rest a meter between Subaru and him, while Minami and the one other 'henchman' didn't budge from their positions when everything suddenly was upturned.

"Tetsuko - what's the meaning of this?"

"I thought that would be fairly obvious..."

Is this a real coup... Is Minami's father making a run for Kei's dad's top job...?

The ambitious man's smile grew as his scheme apparently took form.

"What's this honestly about Takahito?"

Akashi asked after her finally settled right down.

"You want honesty..."

The skinnier mans smile turned into a proper smirk.

"Well I'm here to ask you to step down, have a nice little retirement and stay out of the way... forever Masaru."

His words shocked about everyone in the room

So brash, he must really have some dirt on Kei's old man...

Minami broke from her stun and started to blurt out her reason for organising the little meeting.

"But daddy - I wanted to marry Kei..."

"Be quiet Minami!"

He turned back with a look that meant business and the spoilt teenager hushed immediately.

"You were only a means to get here today... Why would I wait for you to woe and marry into their lousy family, if I have a much quicker and more decisive alternative...?"

She didn't answer, no one did, while the darker skinned girl fell back into line, and her father turned his attention to the other dad in the room.

"I knew you were ambitious... but this... better be a joke Takahito..."

He ignored the darker haired mans words.

"You know, I actually tried to tip you out before - that whole investigation the police did, that you somehow slipped out of - just who do you think spilled the right secrets back then... it certainly wasn't some lowly grunt we ended up casting the blame on."

Wait... was that about me just then...? It had to be right...?

"Sorry for being more direct this time, but I probably won't get a better chance..."

Tatahito waved his hand around the quietened room, still smug like he held all the right cards.

"So Matsuda, what's your answer?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

Takahito smiled like a proper crazed person.

"Maybe... but you're the bigger fool if you turn down my deal..."

The current boss didn't like those words.

"Deal... to walk away and let you take over without a fight...? I know you remember... so I'd be crazy to let that happen!"

The room went still and quiet again, as Subaru stayed a spectator to the unexpected events unfolding right before him.

And here I thought I was in serious troubles...

"You're acting well too cocky for mere fudged paperwork, and a few payed off men... what else are you hiding?"

He smirked some more.

"Always had an ability to pick out that sort of thing... didn't you..."

Takahito reached into his jacket and produced something dark and metallic.

"I managed to get this in today... so this would be my 'back-up'."

That's a gun...!

"Ha, you - going to shot me...! What would that get you... the others would turn on you in an instant."

Akashi scoffed, as Masaru's men gave him some wiggle room to step slightly forward, as he gave no look of any fear.

"I'll ask you to write an official resignation letter, or at least sign one of the ones I've brought along."

The man holding Kei's shoulder took the cue and spilled three small folders onto the floor between them all, but Mr Akashi remained defiant.

"And if I don't, you going to be man enough to use your little weapon there?"

Takahito stood their calmly, inspecting his handgun for a moment.

"Yes, but not on you..."

He shifted its direction toward Kei, who stopped fidgeting as it pointed at her.

"I'll put a bullet into your precious son if you refuse me again."

"You bastard..."

Masaru growled.

With the gun pointed at Kei, and the threats levelled, the room went deadly quiet, until Minami stepped toward her father and timidly objected.

"Daddy - but... Kei -!"

"Shut the hell up!"

He shouted over his shoulder, back at his daughter, who winced away, pulling her slightly outreached hand back to her trembling body, after receiving a deathly stare

"I told you twice now... so if you dare speak again..."

His cold words made Minami retreat back a few small steps further, so she stood alongside Subaru, while her eyes shifted to the floor with great fear.

However Subaru came into Mr Tetsuko's sights then.

"Now how about I get rid of this insignificant one here then?"

The small weapon slowly pointed toward Subaru and he went cold.

"You wouldn't hurt that innocent girl... or dare kill my kid."

Akashi put up a brave remark, but even Subaru could tell he was sweating more now.

"Oh wouldn't I?"

His weapon aimed away from Subaru, who could breathe again, but returned to loosely point toward Kei once more.

"Oh I won't kill him, not you're precious boy... Not with the first shot anyway, that'll come if you persist on not cooperating."

His attention went back to the one he addressed, while Subaru carefully judged the distance between him and the taller man holding the weapon.

I need to do something... I got to help out some way... But if I screw this up... no - think positively Subaru....

"I'm not going to wait all day here... So last chance or... your precious kid gets a little heavier..."

His sight watched Mr Akashi, while his aim weighed a little.

I'll have no other chance...

Mr Akashi just glared strongly at his former colleague and friend, as he went on.

"...or it might go right through... who can say?"

Subaru carefully knelt down and grabbed the metal baton, and with most of the attention on the gun wielder, and Minami shying away beside him, he did so without anyone's notice, before slowly rising again, and breathing a few deep steadying breaths.

"But if you still won't - then I'm afraid your boy will never walk right again..."

I have to act... now!

Subaru made one big quiet step and raised the metal stick high, and then with his next step, he brought it down at Takahito's arm, just near his wrist, with as much force as he could muster.